Between the Devil and Ian Eversea by Julie Anne Long Read Free Book Online Page A

Everseas were commonplace here in England. Perhaps finding a beautiful titled husband would be as simple as shaking an apple from a tree.
    “Last I saw of him he was out with Adam repairing a paddock fence or a roof or something somewhere,” the one called Chase said. “And they’ll be at the vicarage repairs for days.”
    The duke looked up and said dryly, “As a form of penance for his usual—”
    His face contorted in a wince. She knew a ferocious twinge of pity. Possibly when one got to his age, which was forty at least, many things made you wince. Gout, heart flutters, capricious digestion.
    “Our cousin Mr. Adam Sylvaine is the vicar here in Pennyroyal Green,” Genevieve said to Tansy. “He’s always helping the Sussex poor. We’re so very proud of him.”
    “How lovely to have a vicar as part of the family. Have you another brother?”
    “Aren’t we fortunate to have such wonderful weather at this time of year?” This came from the duke, a question posed to the table at large, as if he hadn’t heard her question at all. Perhaps he hadn’t. Perhaps she’d underestimated his age and he was beginning to need an ear trumpet to hear voices over a distance of several feet.
    “IT’S LOVELY. DO YOU NORMALLY HAVE INCLEMENT SPRINGS?”
    She had a sudden impression of the whites of eyes as they all widened.
    “Our springs are so beautiful, Miss Danforth. You’ll love them,” Olivia volunteered, softly, carefully, as if demonstrating the proper indoor tone.
    “Have you another brother?” she tried, more softly, a bit suspicious now.
    “What are your interests and pursuits, Miss Danforth?” This came from Colin. It was a subject change, but his eyes held a promising sparkle.
    “Oh, I’ve become a bit of a wallflower, I’m afraid. I’m looking forward to learning what the natives of Sussex enjoy.”
    Colin recognized this as flirtation, she could tell. This one was a rogue, or once had been.
    “Colin likes cows,” Chase said abruptly, irritably. “Very, very much.”
    “Cows . . .” Tansy mused. “Well, I can think of few things more fulfilling than raising a bovine to adulthood,” she said.
    There was an astonished hush.
    Colin looked as though he was torn between thinking this was balderdash and wondering whether he cared whether it was or not, since it was precisely what he wanted to hear.
    “Miss Danforth, have you ever traveled to the East Indies?” Chase interjected. It sounded almost experimental.
    She swiveled her head toward him. “I haven’t had the pleasure yet, but I imagine working for the East India Company is so dashing . The two of you must be very talented. I hope you’ll tell me more about it during my stay.”
    She beamed at them.
    And everyone could see the moment when Colin and Chase surrendered to the big eyes and eyelashes and the smile and they glowed.
    There was another almost palpable hush.
    And then Chase and Colin began talking over each other about cows and the East India Company until the footman brought in the blancmange.

 
    Chapter 5

    “W ALLFLOWER MY EYE!” O LIVIA said to Genevieve after dinner. She perched at the edge of Genevieve’s bed and rubbed her ankle. “So much kicking and poking going on beneath the table tonight! Will we need to edit our conversation forever while she’s here? ‘I can’t think of anything more rewarding than raising a bovine to adulthood.’ Honestly! And it’s not like she won’t see Ian at some point. We can’t disguise his existence forever. She may not find him in the least appealing when she does. She’s such a young thing, and Ian can be such a jade.”
    Genevieve hesitated. The ironic parting words of Tansy’s paid chaperone, “Good luck yer Grace,” echoed in her mind.
    She judiciously decided not to share this with Olivia. Not yet, anyway.
    “Well, we shan’t be sharing every meal with her. I think she’s charming. She’s alone in the world and I think she’s only trying to please. She’s just as